Proximity faucet having selective automatic and manual modes

• US 7,464,418 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ideal Standard International BVBA (Ideal Standard International Topco SCA)
• Original Assignee: Ideal Standard International BVBA (Ideal Standard International Topco SCA)
• Inventors: Meisner, David J., Kass, Robert C., Seggio, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tuan N
• Application Number:
  US11/795,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 462/3, 4675-678, 4302-305, 251/129.03, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/05 Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps remote control of taps or the like per se F16K

Abstract

A proximity faucet is provided that includes a housing, faucet and lever support portions and a peripheral housing wall with a spout portion having a neck extending outward from the housing wall and a fluid outlet at a free extent thereof. The faucet support portion accommodates an elongate shank extending downwardly therefrom and having at least one fluid supply conduit therein. The lever support portion receives a mixing cartridge therein that mixes cold and hot water delivered by the fluid supply conduit. The lever support portion supports a freely rotatable lever thereon. The lever is coupled to the mixing cartridge such that rotation of the lever adjusts the water temperature and flow rate. A sensor cover ring that is rotatably disposed adjacent the housing wall includes a reflective surface along an inner surface thereof that lies adjacent the housing wall. The sensor cover ring includes an eye that aligns with a proximity detector disposed in the housing wall and permits the proximity detector to emit a signal therefrom. The proximity detector, which is in electrical communication with an electronically controlled valve that is positioned downstream of the mixing cartridge, transmits a signal to the electronically controlled valve upon sensing am object or upon concealment of the proximity detector by the sensor cover ring, thereby maintaining the mixing cartridge in an open position. The proximity detector is correspondingly rotatable with the spout portion as the spout portion rotates relative to a receptacle proximate which the faucet is used. A proximity filter faucet having selective automatic and manual modes is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A proximity faucet having selective automatic and manual modes, comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal axis and a faucet support portion, a lever support portion at a distalmost extent relative to said faucet support portion and a peripheral housing wall that is coextensive with said faucet support portion and said lever support portion;

said faucet support portion adapted for installation proximate a faucet support surface and accommodating an elongate, generally cylindrical shank extending downwardly therefrom that retains at least one fluid supply conduit therein that traverses a longitudinal extent of said shank and an internal body portion of said housing;

said lever support portion receiving a mixing cartridge having a detent mechanism in communication therewith, said mixing cartridge mixing cold and hot water delivered by said at least one fluid supply conduit in fluid communication therewith and also controlling the flow rate of said mixed water, said lever support portion supporting a freely rotatable lever thereon that rotates about said longitudinal axis and is coupled with said detent mechanism such that rotation of said lever correspondingly adjusts said detent mechanism to change water temperature and flow rate;

a spout portion disposed intermediate said faucet support portion and said lever support portion, said spout portion including a neck extending outward from said housing wall, said spout having a fluid outlet that includes at least one fluid aperture defined at a free extent thereof;

a sensor cover ring that is rotatably disposed adjacent said housing wall and includes a reflective surface along an inner surface thereof that lies adjacent said housing wall;

said sensor cover ring rotating relative to a proximity detector disposed in said housing wall and including an eye that permits said proximity detector to emit a signal upon alignment of said eye therewith; and

at least one electronically controlled valve positioned downstream of said mixing cartridge, said proximity detector transmitting detection signals to said electronically controlled valve upon sensing an object in a detection zone of said proximity detector or upon concealment of said proximity detector by said sensor cover ring, thereby maintaining said mixing cartridge in an open position;

wherein rotation of said sensor cover ring about said housing wall selectively reveals said proximity detector by aligning said eye with said proximity detector and thereby correspondingly selects said automatic and manual modes.

2. A proximity faucet according to claim 1, wherein said housing is rotatable about said longitudinal axis so as to enable positioning of said faucet relative to a receptacle proximate which said faucet operates.

3. A proximity faucet according to claim 2, wherein said proximity detector and said sensor cover ring rotate correspondingly with said housing such that said sensor cover ring remains rotatable relative to said housing wall to ensure said detection zone follows the path of rotation of said housing.

4. A proximity faucet according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fluid supply conduit is coupled to at least one fastener to ensure uninterrupted fluid communication with at least one fluid delivery source.

5. A proximity faucet according to claim 1, wherein said sensor cover ring includes indicia to facilitate rotatable adjustment of said sensor cover ring by a user and indicate a location of said sensor cover ring relative to said housing wall.

6. A proximity faucet according to claim 1, wherein said proximity detector is selected from infrared, radar and laser detectors and any combination thereof.

7. A proximity faucet according to claim 1, wherein said faucet is a combination faucet having a spray that extends from said spout portion in connection with a flexible spray hose, said spray being insertably supported by said neck and coupled to a flexible hose to accommodate removable attachment of said spray from said neck and thereby maintain fluid delivery to said spray.

8. A proximity faucet according to claim 7, wherein said spray includes at least one fluid outlet that provides one or more of a jet stream, a shower spray, a pulse spray, a waterfall, and any combination thereof.

9. A proximity faucet according to claim 7, wherein said spray includes indicia along a longitudinal extent thereof to accommodate gripping of the spray.

10. A proximity faucet according to claim 9, wherein said indicia further include one or more buttons to control the fluid volume and flow rate from said spray upon depression thereof.

11. A proximity faucet according to claim 1, wherein a power source that supplies power to said electronically controlled valve and said proximity detector is selected from a battery pack and household AC supply.

12. A proximity filter faucet having selective automatic and manual modes, comprising:

at least a first spout and a second spout, each said spout having a fluid outlet at a free extent thereof and a base portion proximate a faucet support surface;

each said base portion including a sensor cover ring rotatable about a periphery thereof, said sensor cover ring having a reflective surface along an inner surface thereof that lies adjacent said base portion periphery;

said sensor cover ring rotating relative to a proximity detector disposed in said base portion;

said sensor cover ring including an eye that permits said proximity detector to emit a signal upon alignment of said eye therewith;

a mixing valve that combines cold and hot water delivered by at least one fluid supply conduit in fluid communication therewith; and

at least one electronically controlled valve positioned downstream of said mixing cartridge, said proximity detector transmitting detection signals to said electronically controlled valve upon sensing the presence of an object thereby or upon concealment of said proximity detector by said sensor cover ring, thereby maintaining said mixing cartridge in an open position;

wherein one of said first spout and said second spout is in fluid communication with a filter that filters water from a cold water supply;

wherein both said first spout and said second spout are coupled to an electronic controller that includes two manifolds corresponding to each of said spouts and which delivers fluid to at least one of said spouts upon detection of an object by one said proximity detector; and

wherein said mixing valve controls the flow rate of said combined water to said fluid outlet of said spout that is not in communication with said filter.

13. A proximity faucet according to claim 12, wherein said mixing valve is coupled with a rotatable knob such that rotation of said knob adjusts the temperature of water delivered from said spout that is not in communication with said filter.

14. A proximity faucet according to claim 12, wherein said filter faucet desirably includes an indicator array for indicating the operational status of said filter faucet.

15. A proximity faucet according to claim 14, wherein said indicator array includes a plurality of individual LED indicators corresponding to each condition desired to be indicated with respect to said filter faucet.